Sausage cooker



J. R. VOELLER SAUSAGE COOKER Filed April 11, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l 'gaw 61% I Aug. 27, 1935. J. R. VOELLER' SAUSAGE COOKER Filed April 11, 1931 1935- J. R. VOELLER SAUSAGE COOKER Filed April 11, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwuentoz. v RYNMM Patented Aug. 27; 1935 OFFICE SAUSAGE COOKER Jacob R. Voellen. Kansas City.

Kans., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Alvin J. Swanson,

Jamestown, N. Y.

7 Application April 11, 1931,"Serial No. 529,43 3

16Clain1s. (01. 219-19 I r In the embodiment of the invention'hereflshown there is provided a hollow base or body having a top In from which depend outwardly flaring skirts I l provided with supporting legs 12 at each corner I 1 Thisinvention relatesto electrical cookers and hasspe'cial reference to a cooker for sausages of the s'moked' type such asare knownas fFrankfurt'ersflthe device being preferably termed a Frankfurter cooker. ""Onefi'mportantobject of theinvention is to providean improved general construction of cooker of this .class.

.' A secondimportant object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of such a cooker wherein. electric current will be caused toiflow through the article being cooked, the latter acting as a resistance and being'heated and cooked by the current. A, third importantlobject'of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of electrodes or terminals'for' such a cooker.

' A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a novel supporting-"arrangement for the. electrodes of terminals whereby free access may be had to the latter for cleaning and re--' moval. r

A. fifth important" object of the invention is to provide j'fa. novel cookerhaving electrodes or terminals and so arranged that the terminals maybe moved between position to engage an articletobe cooked and positionfree therefrom. v H Asixth. important 'object of the invention is to provide circuit" closingmeans arranged to efl'ectclosing of a circuit only upon the terminals being in article, eng ing position.

jwithg he' bove'and other objects inview; th ihventionconsists in general of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter'fully' described, illustrated in the accompalnying. drawings, and specifically claimed;

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference. indicate like parts in the several yiews..and: t

Figure .1. is a side elevation'of the cooker with the top raised.

Figure2 is a plan view thereof. 7 4 F ure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 with the top raised. V 'Figure i i's a similar section with the top down. 7 Figure'5 isa. detail section on the line 5-5 of Figures. ,H. I

Figure 6' is adetail section on the line 66 of.Figure 3. I 1 "Figure? is a detail sectionon the linel-l of Figure? j ,Figure 8 is a detail of a part of the pivoted terminafframe'showing the pivot arrangement.

Figureais a section transverse a modified form of terminal Strip.

of the body. The body is, in plan, substantially rectangular andis somewhat longer than wide so that it may be said to have ends and; sides. Depending beneath the top at aboututhecente'r of each of the sides is a guide lug [4 through which slides-a vertical post l5 having a pin IB extending therethrough near its top. A spring YIT coils around each post and bears 'at its upper end against thepin l6 and at its lower end against the'top In so that the posts are constantly urged to move upwardly. The lower ends of these posts are tied. together by a cross bar l8. Depending from the top, is a bracket I9 to which is pivoted the upper end of a swinging latch arm,2 0 having its lower end working in a notch 2| formed inone side of the cross bar l8, the latch arm being provided with a notch22 in which engagesthe side edge portion of the notch 2| as shown infFigui'e 5. A tension spring 23 has one end attached to the lower part of the latch arm and its other end attached to the skirt H at one side of thebody. this spring serving to urge the latcharmto latching position. Depending from the top lll'is a bearing bracket 23 and a crankshaft 24 is journalledin the lower end of this bracket and in one of the end skirts I l. on theinner end of this shaft is formed a crank 25 which engages" the latch arm 20 tomo ve the latter to latch releasing position upon rotation of the shaft in the proper direction. An operating arm 26 projects radially from the outer endof this shaft so that'the user may rock the shaft and release the latch.

Firmly fixed to the top of each post i5 is a head 'bracketZfi' in the form of a horizontal bar which projects a considerable distance to the rear of the post and a somewhat less distanc'e forwardlyy thereof. At the a pivot screw 21 Whereon is mounted. one of the side members 28 ofa head frame, the twoside members being connected at their rear ends by a tie bar 29 and eachhaving a central upstandtween and is carried by these handle brackets. The forward end of each bracket is provided with into the adjacent side member 29 so that, when the screws are screwed up the head frame'cannot an upwardlyopening slot 32 and a clamping.

' screw 33 normally passes through each slot and 50 pivot on the screws 2'! but when thescrews are rear of each head bracket 26? is 5 ing handlebracket 30. A'handle 3| extends betends: over the-cooker cooking as giving slitting the sausage too much in anyone place, a strip of skin being leit between thetwo slits sausages are placed is therefore screw 36 for removably clamping the terminal" or electrode frames in position. Each terminal frame consists of a flat metallic strip tl'from which depend the spaced knifeedge'd terminals 38 or electrodes which may be of 's'ornewhat-triangular form as shown in Figure 7 or bifurcated as shown in- Figure 9, the latter beingused for quick more contact area while' not formed by the bifurcated terminal. A- contact strip39 is carried by each of the blocks can; the these contactstrip's runs a wire 40 which leads to amanually controlled switch 4! mounted on the; skirt li at the frontof the machine. A switch bracket-,,,4 2- is mountedon the under side ofsthe top-liladjacent its rear end and carried by this bracket but insulated therefrom is a'paiif of spring contact fingers 43' one of which is C011? nected tothefremainingstrip139 by a wire 44.'

The other finger 33 is connected toone wire of the two wire connecting cable 45 while the other wire of this cableis connected-to a binding pivot 46 from which a wire extends to the switch 4i.

Carried by:the bar l8 is a bracket 4] t end of which supports an insulating block 48 overlying the; free ends of the fingers 43 so that contact is 'established between these fingers when theQheadv is in depressed position. I r On top-of thetop ,H] are :ribs 49 arranged in rectangular form to support a cooker pan or tray Bikin proper position to receive the'terminals in; the;ends of the oblong compartments formed therein to keept he sausages from touching each other. j This pan is made of porcelain or the, like. Anarm 5I is attached to: the rear skirt and expan so as to detach the sausagesfrom the terminalswhen the head is raised by thesprings. f r In use the latch's-released and the head allowed to rise. The cooker pan-is withdrawn and a in :its compartments after hich it isreplaced. The head isnow pushed down so that the terminal knives cutinto the sausage and; this, the manual switch having been turnedon, closes circuits through the sausages which are heated and cooked by the, passage of the-current.- when cooked theflhead is v It, is obvious that minor changes may be. made in the form and construction of the device-without departing from the principles involved. -It desired to include, as the invention, allforms which properly come within the scope m d-w X f' r Havingthus described" the invention, what is claimed is:-

a 1. In a sausage cooker, a pair of spaced terminalsadapted topenetrate a sausage adjacent its ends, means to support the sausage, means to to support the, terminals pivot end of {the head frame and from oneJof support the terminals andto move them into and out of sausage penetrating position, means to detach the sausages from the terminals upon movement of said terminals out of sausage penetrating position, and an electric circuit forsaid terminals including a switch open when the terminals are out of sausage penetrating position and closed when said terminals are in sausage penetrating position.

2. In a sausage cooker, a pair of spaced electric 1 circuit terminals adapted to penetrate a sausage adjacent its ends and thereby forming cooking electrodes, means to support the sausage, means and to move them into and out of sausage penetrating position, springs urging said terminals out of sausage engaging position, and a said terminals in sausage engaging position.

3. In-asausage cooker, a pair of spaced electric circuitterminals adapted topenetrate a sausage adjacent "its ends and thereby forming cooking electrodes; means to support the'sausage, means to support the terminals and to move them into 7 and'out of sausage penetrating .position, means to. detach the'sausages from the terminalsjupon movement ofsaid terminals out of sausage penetrating' position, springs urging said terminals out of-sausage engaging position, and a manually releasable latchholding said terminals in sausage engaging position. i

,4. In a sausagecooker, a pair of spacedtermi nalsadapted to penetrate a sausage adjacent its ends, means to'support the sausage, means to support the terminals and tomoveth m into and out 50f sausage penetrating position, anlelectric circuit for said terminals including aswitch open when the terminals are out of sausage penetrating sausage, penetrating position, springs urging said terminals out of sausagaengaging' position, and a' manually releasable latch holding said terminals in sausage engaging position.

a 5. In a sausage cooker, a pair of spaced terminalsad'apted to' penetrate a sausage adjacent its ends, meansfto support ,the sausage, means to support the'terminalslandto move them into and manually releasable latch holding position a'nd jclosed'when said terminals are in Y out ofisausage penetrating position, means to detach thesausages from the terminals upon move; ment of said terminals'out' of sausage penetrating position, an electric circuit for said terminals including a switch open when the terminals are out of. sausage penetrating position and closed when said terminals are in sausage penetrating position, springs urging said terminals out of sausage engagingv position, and a manually releasable latchholding said terminals in sausage engaging position. f v

6.'In a 'sausagecooker, a pair ofspa'ced electric circuit terminals adapted to penetrate. a sausage adjacent its ends and thereby forming cooking electrodes, means to-support the sausage below saidterminals,.a' head supporting said terminals, verticallymovinghead brackets pivoted to the headat oneend'of thelatter whereby the latter may swing upwardly from normal position for access to the terminals, the movement of said brackets causing movement of the terminals into and out of sausage engaging position, and means to detach the. sausages from the terminals upon movement of said terminals out of sausagepenetrating position. v

7. In a sausage cooker, a pair of spaced terminals adapted to penetrate a sausage adjacent its ends, means to support the sausagebelowsaid terminals, a head supporting said termina1s,'ver- 1 V 2,012,840 tically moving head brackets pivoted to the, headat one end of the latter whereby the latter may swing'upwardly from normal position for access to the terminals, the'movement of saidzbracketsa causing movement of the terminals into and out. of sausage engaging position, and an electric cirswing upwardly from normal position foraccess to the terminals, the movement of said brackets causing movement of the terminals into and out of sausage engaging position, ,means to detach the sausages from the terminals upon movement of said terminals out of sausage penetrating position, and an electric circuitffor said terminals including. a switch'openwhenthe terminals are out of sausage penetrating position and closed when said terminals are-insausage penetrating position. j I

9. In a sausage cooker, a pair of spaced termi- .nals adapted to penetrate a sausage adjacent its ends, means to support the sausage below'said terminals, a head supporting said termin'als,-ver- "tically moving head brackets pivoted to the head at one end of the latter whereby the latter may swing upwardly from normal'position for access to the terminals, the movement of said brackets causing movement of the terminalsinto and out of sausage engaging position, springs urging said brackets upwardly to move the terminals out of sausage engaging position, and a manually releasable latch holding the brackets down against the action of said springs. V v

10. In a sausage cooker, a pair of spaced terminals adapted to penetrate a sausage adjacent its ends, means to support the sausage below said terminals, a head supporting said terminaIsLvertically moving head brackets pivoted to the head at one end of the latter whereby: the latter may swing upwardly from normal position for access to the terminals, the'movement of saidbrackets causing movement of the terminals into and out 1 of sausage engaging position, means to detach the sausages from the terminals upon movement of said terminals out of sausage penetrating position, springs urging said brackets upwardly to move the terminals out of sausage engaging position, and a manually releasable latch holding the brackets down against the action of said springs.

11. In a sausage cooker, a pair ofspaced terminals adapted to penetrate a sausage adjacent its ends, means to support the sausage below said terminals, a head supporting said terminals, vertically moving head brackets pivoted to the head at one end of the latter whereby .thelatter may swing upwardly from normal position for access to the terminals, the movement of said brackets causing movement of the terminals intoand out of sausage engaging position, an electric circuit for said terminals including a switch open when the terminals are out .of-sausage penetrating position and closed when saidterminals are in sausage penetrating position, springs urging said leasable latch holding the brackets downagainst the action of said springs. 1 v

12. In a sausage cooker, a pair of spaced iterminals adapted to penetrate a sausage adjacent itsends, means to support the sausage below said terminals, a head supporting said terminals, vertically moving headbrackets pivoted to the head 1 at one'end of the latter whereby the latter may swing upwardly from normal position for access brackets upwardly to'move the terminals out of sausage engaging position, and a manually reto the terminals, the movement of said brackets causing movement of the terminals into and out of sausageengaging-position, means tooletach the sausages from the terminalsupon movement of said terminals out of sausage penc trating position, an electric circuit for said ter- 7 minals includinga switch 'open whenfthe terminals are out of sausage penetrating position and I 20 closedwhen said terminals are in sausage-penetrating position,- springs urging said brackets up wardly to move the terminals out of sausage en gaging position, anda. manually releasable latch 'holding' the brackets down against the action of said springs. v V 13. In a device of the character describedj'a suppQrt including afixed member and a movable member, spaced. electrodes associated with said support, impaling knife-like means on the elec trodes to pierce the article to be cooked when the movable member is actuated with relation to the fixed member, and means .for closing a circuit to the elcctrodesfor passing a-currenti through the article impaled by said means.

,14. In a device of the character described, a

impaling base member, a cover member hinged on the base member and adapted to, close onto the base meta-- berga spring for normally retaining the cover member in open position, electrodes associated with said members for impaling an article to be cooked when the cover member is closed on the .base member, a circuit supplying the electrodes, means for'closing the circuit incidental to closing of the cover member, a latch for retaining the cover member in closed position on the base. member against tension of the spring, and means for releasingthe latch.

'15. In a device of the character describe'dga base member, .a movable upper member, a pan-on the base member for retaining an articleto bei cooked, spaced electrodes associated with the j upper member, elementscarried by the electrodes for projection into the pan when the upper member is moved toward the base-member, and a circuit for supplying a heating current to the electrodes for passage through the article in the pan.

16. In a deviceoi the character described, a support including a fixed member, a movable T member arranged for movement between an article-engaging position andan article-disengaging position, spaced electrodes carried by said N support, at least one of said electrodes being movable with respect to the fixed member, impaling means on said electrodes arranged to pierce an article upon movement of said movable member to article-engaging position, and an electrical circuit to the electrode for passinga current through an article impaled by said .impaling means;

' JACOB R. VOELLER. 

